A Two-Day Winter Road Trip Through Death Valley

Two winter days in Death Valley are enough to see the salt flats, badlands, and sand dunes without building the trip around remote dirt roads. Use Furnace Creek as your starting point and split your time between Badwater Road and the paved drive west toward Stovepipe Wells.

Flooding can close roads and facilities on short notice. Before leaving, check the National Park Service road map and download a copy. This route keeps the major stops simple so you can rearrange them around weather and daylight.

Day 1: Badwater Basin and the badlands

Start at Furnace Creek, then head south on Badwater Road to the salt flats. The Park Service puts the drive from the visitor center to Badwater Basin at about 30 minutes. Walk as far onto the flats as conditions and daylight allow, then return the same way.

At Badwater, the parking area puts you close to the edge of the salt flat. If you only have time for a short stop, step out far enough to see the texture of the salt against the mountains. For a longer visit, bring water and pick a turnaround before you start. Distances are easy to misjudge when the view ahead is nearly featureless.

Save a second stop for Zabriskie Point, east of Furnace Creek. The overlook gives you a different scale of landscape from the salt flats below. If you have extra time and the road is open, you can add a stop along Badwater Road instead of taking a rough shortcut.

From the Zabriskie Point lot, the paved path to the overlook climbs for about a quarter mile. Look for the pointed formation called Manly Beacon. You can see it from the viewpoint without committing to a hike into the badlands. If you’re making this a sunset stop, leave enough time to walk back to the parking lot as the light fades.

Day 2: Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

Take California 190 west toward Stovepipe Wells. At Mesquite Flat, the view changes quickly as you walk away from the parking area. You can take a short look at the dunes and turn around whenever you like. There is no need to reach the highest ridge to see the landscape.

Mesquite Flat has a paved lot with pull-through spaces for larger vehicles. Once you leave the lot, there’s no official trail through the dunes. Pick a visible ridge near the parking area if you want a short walk, and turn around before soft sand makes the return feel longer than expected. Pets are restricted at the dunes, so plan a different stop if you are traveling with a dog.

Bring layers, water, and a plan for where to refuel. Stick to marked parking and turnarounds, and check the forecast for the part of the valley you will actually visit. The drive and the walking conditions can change independently.

Leave time on the second day to refuel or turn back without rushing. If wind makes the dunes unpleasant, you can shorten the walk and still see the landscape from near the lot. Keep the route flexible enough to return to the same paved highway. An unpaved line on a downloaded map may be impassable after a storm.

Pick your overnight stop first

Furnace Creek Campground takes reservations during part of the cooler season. Check the park’s developed campground listings for other options, seasonal closures, and vehicle restrictions. If Death Valley is one leg of a longer drive, see our California road trip guide.

Book or choose a campsite before you plan a sunset stop. Your camping location determines how much driving you’ll have left after dark and which direction makes sense the next morning. Check the site’s vehicle length and whether it has the hookups you expect. If you’re counting on a refill or a campsite service, confirm that it’s open for your dates.

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